this morning on "first look," secretary of state hillary clinton is in a new york city hospital with a blood clot. details ahead. looking over the fiscal cliff, is a last second deal even possible? >> kim kardashian and kanye west expecting a baby. new year's eve preps and the new york giants open their hearts to the families of newtown, connecticut. very good morning. nice to see you this morning. we begin with secretary of state hillary clinton in the hospital. clinton was admitted to new york presbyterian hospital after the discovery of a blood clot stemming from a consuggestion so suffered earlier this month. she's being treated with blood thinners and doctors will northern the medication over the next two days. the 65-year-old clinton fell and suffered a concussion when she fainted while home alone in mid-december as she recovered from a stomach virus that left her severely dehydrated. she planned to return network this week. it's crunch time on capitol

hill. senate and house negotiators have a few crucial hours to come up with a compromise to avert the looming financial mess. if they don't here's what will happen. everyone's tax rates will go up. $1.2 trillion in federal spending cuts begin to kick in. the payroll tax holiday enacted under president obama will expire. the alternative minimum tax kicks in and several tax deductions will also expire. nbc's danielle leigh is on capitol hill with the latest on the negotiation. danielle, what's the latest? >> reporter: good morning. there's been progress and at 11:00 a.m. this morning the senate is going to get back to work. when they do they will not have a lot of time to come up with a deal to avoid those spending cuts and tax increase. both sides are still divided but just before calling it quits yesterday democratic leader harry reid said he hoped to have an announcement in the morning when the senate gets back network. where are they divided? they are divided at what salary

taxes should increase but there was progress on taxes for the wealthiest of americans and avoiding the inheritance increases and they are grateful that republicans have given up on demands for cuts to social security at least for now. now this progress has not come easy. democrats have accused republicans of being too suborn on tax increases. just yesterday republicans slammed democrats for failing to give them a counter offer in the negotiation. minority leader mitch mcconnell called the vice president joe biden to get involved and help in the negotiations. lawmakers say they are hopeful they will get a deal today. even if they don't the fight won't be over for long. republicans will push for those reforms they gave up this time around early next year during the debt limit debate. back to you. for his part president obama has been trying to turn up the heat on congress applying new pressure on sunday in an interview with david gregory on

"meet the press." we have details. >> reporter: on "meet the press," president obama continued his public campaign to pressure congress. >> if congress doesn't act then everybody's taxes go up, and for the average family that could mean a loss of $2,000 in income and the whole economy could slow down at a time when the economy is starting to pick up. >> reporter: he again called on lawmakers to strike a deal or hold a vote on his plan which would raise tax rates on wealthy americans, a major sticking point for republicans. >> the way they are behaving is that their only priority is making sure that tax breaks for the wealthiest americans are protected. that seems to be their only overriding unifying theme. >> reporter: after the interview republican leaders accused the president of assigning blame instead of leading. >> so when they say leadership falls on you mr. president you don't have a role here in breaking this impasse? you've had a tough go with congress.

>> if folks can't say yes to good offers, then i also have an obligation to the american people to make sure that the entire burden of deficit reduction doesn't fall on the seniors who are relying on medicare. there is a basic fairness that is at stake in this whole thing. >> reporter: republicans say to be fair the president must focus on entitlement reform to reduce the deficit. >> are you prepared to do that in your first year of your second term. >> what i said i'm prepared to do everything i can to make sure medicare and social security are there not just for this generation but future generations. >> reporter: despite the current gridlock the president says he mains optimistic but asserted democracy is messy. >> one way or another we'll get through this. to i wish that things were more orderly in washington? and rational and people listen to the best arguments and

compromise and operate in a more thoughtful and organized fashion? absolutely. but when you look at history that's been the exception rather than the norm. >> now here is your "first look" at this morning's dish of scrambled politics. a new the die found the long lines in central florida on election day discouraged as many as 49,000 people from voting. on "meet the press" nbc's tom brokaw says there's a simple explanation for what's wrong with our elections and the lawmakers sent to washington. >> the system is rigged. 75% of the congressmen come from gerrymandered districts which which they are bullet proof. >> as 2012 comes to an end the 112th congress will go down in history as the most unproductive in 60 years. 219 bills have been passed. that's compared to 383 bills passed by the last congress. 460 by the one before that.

despite that terrible record president obama has signed an executive order giving returning members of congress up to a 1% raise ending a pay freeze going back to 2009. the nature did put in some extra working hours last night but there was some grumbling. one senator said quote this is definitely not a kumbaya moment. and that's your morning dish of scrambled politics. for your new year's eve weather we turn to bill karins. happy new year's eve morning. >> it's a big day, right? >> it is a big day. and a cold one. >> maybe not for you and i but for everyone else it's a fun day. last day of 2012 is very cold. snow to talk about. no big blockbuster snowstorms. the cold air is the story. easily the coldest week of the winter season. in white winter advisories. texas, panhandle of oklahoma,

southern indiana and illinois this is where light snow is heading your way. winter weather advisory usually means you'll have slippery travel but not like a blockbuster event. so just travel with care especially northern texas, panhandle of oklahoma up through kansas this morning the snow is breaking out shown here in white. we'll be watching missouri traveling interstate 70 during the morning hours. that's where you deal with snowy weather and this will continue through much of the day. we just changed over to snow in joplin. interstate 44 right now mostly rain but we'll watch interstate 70 later today. that could be a troublesome drive and a major thoroughfare through the middle of the heartland. this is not a big huge event. one to three inches from indianapolis to st. louis to kansas city to wichita including areas around topeka kansas. other areas of the country won't see much snow today. very cold, though. northern new england very cold. boston is at 22. maine in the single digits with

negative numbers in the northern plains. so it's going to be very cold out there today. minneapolis, fargo, duluth and eventually that cold air will head towards chicago late tonight to tomorrow. one spot in this country that i wouldn't want to stand outside in the cold and wait for a ball to drop is in the northern plains. not bad in new york city later on tonight. >> negative temperatures. yikes. >> coldest air of the season. get ready for it. >> stay warm out there. thanks. top new year's resolutions made and kept by the most successful people. huge entertainment news to tell you about. kanye west, kim kardashian expecting a baby. who broke the news, how far along is she. plus it is lights out for thomas edison's 75 watt light bulb. good luck trying to find one in 2013. you're watching "first look" on msnbc. [ fishing rod casting line, marching band playing ]

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it's not for colds. it's not for pain. it's just for sleep. because sleep is a beautiful thing™. ♪ zzzquil™. the non-habit forming sleep-aid from the makers of nyquil®. welcome back. some stories making news this morning now. in oregon, a tour bus crashed through a guardrail and down a steep embankment killing nine people, injuring 20.

the driver lost control on a highway covered in snow and ice. incredible images captured from a dashboard camera shows a russian plane crashing on to a highway in moscow. five crew members died. three survived. there are no passengers on board. someone who didn't want to be identified claimed the body of adam lanza the man who killed 26 people at sandy hook elementary in connecticut on december 14th. 200 students, parents and faculty from the sandy hook school attended the new york giants game sunday. they were high fived by the giants players. kim kardashian is pregnant. kardashian's family confirmed the news but the father to be rapper kanye west announced it last night during a concert in atlantic city. kim is about 12 weeks with the baby due in the summer. the way that congratulations have all been going all night on

twitter, her mom tweeting oh, baby baby baby. and then e show the soup, they tweeted most pregnancies last about nine months or about four marriages in kim kardashian time. tonight an estimated 1 million revelers are expected to gather in new york's times square to ring in the new year. as with any high-profile gathering of this size security is on high alert to make sure tonight's massive event goes off without a hitch. we go live to times square with more on the preparations. good morning. >> reporter: good morning. still very quiet here in times square. the traffic is flowing. we're at 48th street and 7th avenue standing next to one of many barricades that will be used to control the crowds that will start showing up in a couple of hours. more than 2,000 pounds of confetti are in place. ready to be thrown out by hand from buildings in times square at midnight.

>> i've seen it on tv. it looks like so much fun. >> it's magic. everybody in the world wants to come to new york for new year's. >> reporter: hundreds of thousands will usher in the new year from all over the world. they will see the waterford crystal ball drop down the flagpole high above times square lighting up the 2013 sign. this year's ball will have 288 new panels engraved with doves befitting of the theme let there be peace. one of the panels was engraved in the memory of the late dick clark. >> i know dick would be most appreciative of this and never expect the panel to be in the ball. he'll be part of the celebration again. >> reporter: workers are preparing the stages in times square for some big name acts. >> i'm excited. >> reporter: the youtube

isn't association to launched a new dance craze will be here, prompting a lot of this. taylor swift will headline the show. >> she's one of my idols. >> reporter: brent and his girlfriend are practicing their midnight kiss before going shopping for warmer clothes. >> a hat, scarf, pair of gloves. anything to keep me warm. >> reporter: the forecast for tonight clear but quite cold hovering around freezing. and despite these cold temperatures hundreds of thousands will still wait here for much of the day. last year the prime viewing areas filled up 10 1/2 hours before midnight. back to you. >> 10 1/2 hours before midnight. all right, thanks. the new year's countdown in washington, d.c. is about spending your money as we await the outcome of the fiscal cliff negotiations. on the positive side you won be seeing $8 a gallon for milk because congress gave a one year extension for the farm bill.

those who love your 75 watt light bulbs stock up while supplies last. new federal laws prohibit them to be imported or produced in 2013. the tribune company announced it's emerging from bankruptcy with new ownership and new board of directors and forbes has compiled a list of new york's resolutions that successful people make and actually keep. among them plan vacations now. wake up to the essentials first, check e-mail second. support a cause. find your purpose and go for it. go for it. new year's day marks the 150th anniversary of emancipation proclamation. president obama abraham lincoln's order that declared slaves in this country forever free. the document is once again on display. ron mott has details. >> reporter: showing its age the emancipation proclamation still draws attention.

a document whose aim was to you night a country divided by war. >> it's amazing to see abraham lincoln's signature. >> reporter: today the frail order consigned to history on january 1st, 1863 by abraham lincoln is again on public display. show% time just a few days every year. >> very uplifting experience. very important document. >> reporter: presidential historian doris goodwin on president lincoln freeing the slaves. >> philosophically lincoln always believed slavery was wrong. there's no question about that from the time he was a young man. the question is what power did he, once he became president, have to do something about ending slavery? he finally found that door with his powers as commander-in-chief and with military necessity and then he went through that door. >> reporter: the proclamation and the union admitting blacks

to its fighting ranks helped tip the balance of the war towards the north weakening confederate force and preserving the united states of america. many slaves of course went to their deaths never experiencing the freedoms espoused in the emancipation proclamation. some are buried here in the african-american burial ground national monument, lost to centuries of development only discovered two decades ago. as a major motion picture chronicles the life of america's 16th president, americans are reminded of this shy and lanky illinois lawyer. a man who changed a nation by proclamation. ron mott, nbc news new york. >> looking at sports. sunday night football, cowboys/redskins. washington captured the nfc east division title for the first time in 13 years as robert griffin iii got the touchdown. helped beat $20-18. the redskins are playoff bound while the cowboys head home for the third straight year. indianapolis coach chuck

pagano is back with the team. and the quarterback got two touchdowns to beat houston. 28-16. in other action peyton manning had three touchdown passes in the game for the 73rd time. passing the lead record set by brett favre. as denver swamped kansas city 38-3. seattle quarterback russell wilson tied peyton manning's nfl record for the most touchdown passes by a rookie with 26 for the season. the seahawks defeated the rams 20-13. nfl coaches on the chopping block include philadelphia's andy reed after a 4-12 losing season. and norv turner is expected to be cut after missing the playoffs three years in a row. and tony sparano will not return after the team finished 30th. four college football games. the music city bowl, north carolina state versus vanderbilt. sun bowl has usc versus georgia

tech. liberty bowl and chick-fil-a bowl lsu versus clemson. straight ahead a ice rescue that you've never seen before. and last week barbara bush called one of her husband's favorite bands and requested a private concert. the oak ridge boys agreed and gathered in their office to sing over the phone. the 41st president requested "elvira." the band complied. they also sang "amazing grace." take a listen. ♪ amazing grace how sweet thou sound ♪ ♪ that saved a wretch like me [ man ] ring ring... progresso this reduced sodium soup says it may help lower cholesterol, how does it work? you just have to eat it as part of your heart healthy diet. step 1. eat the soup. all those veggies and beans, that's what may help lower your cholesterol and -- well that's easy

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welcome back. christmas day took a terrible turn as an ice rescue set off a chain reaction of rescuers falling through the ice. we have a report on the dramatic rescues. >> reporter: the video camera michelle herman got as a christmas present captured it all. >> that's not funny. >> reporter: christmas day a man on a sled came down on a hill and fell through thin ice of jackson lake. then one after another those who tried to save him fell in. >> it turned in to a disaster. a panic. people falling in. people trying to save him then trying to save themselves. >> give me the rope from under

the seat now. >> reporter: that's the voice of michelle's husband. >> i undid the rope. threw it out. it's a 25-foot rope but seven feet short. at that point we noticed this guy didn't know how to swim. we observed him go under three times. >> call 911 right now. >> reporter: more people went on to that fragile ice including children. then another rope attempt. another one in and then the man who tries to save him as well. inner tubes and sleds. finally -- >> get it. come on. go! >> reporter: rope to pull them to shore. >> in southern california, it just doesn't get cold enough for anybody to be out on the ice. they are very fortunate everybody came out alive. very hard to watch. >> moving on to some entertainment news. "the hobbitt" continues to rule them all at the box office. the lord of the rings people earned $32.9 million this

weekend making it the film's third week on the. "django" came in at two. and les mis came in three. kate winslet's wedding gift is taking her to space. she has a ticket on one of the upcoming virgin atlantic space flights. now we know why she married ned rocknroll. hulk hogan's new restaurant is set to open up tonight in florida. the new eatery will be jimmie buffet's margaretaville meet hooter's times ten. he did say that. he wants to turn the restaurant into a reality show and that, of course, is no surprise. now for another look at the weather. here's nbc meteorologist bill karins. i guess he'll put cameras all over the restaurant. >> it sounds like trouble. >> doesn't it or really, really

good reality tv. >> who knows what the food will be like. not that anyone will care. good morning, everyone. a winter wonderland throughout much of the country, snow covering a lot of areas and where there's snow on the ground still very cold in all of new england. wind chills are in the teens up in maine they are in the single digits and negative numbers. very cold morning. thankfully schools are still out so don't have to worry about bus stop weather. morning commute, cold and chilly but partly cloudy skies, new england warms up for a typical late december type day. snow flurries in pittsburgh. very late today. only troublesome travel, kansas, missouri heading to southern illinois and indiana light snow heading your way. tomorrow, new year's day, some of that snow shower activity will work its way through west virginia and washington, d.c. but it really weakens it won't be a big deal. look at these temperatures. northern plains, this is it. you know, this is the heart of winter. >> winter is here. bundle up tonight. thanks, bill. i'm veronica de la cruz, this is "first look" on msnbc.

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